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Welcome to Events By Epic’s LOVE IS… blog series. I know it’s so cliché to do a love series during the month of February, but you can NEVER talk about LOVE too much. It is one of the most complex, overused, misunderstood, sometimes hurtful, very necessary four-letter word in any language. And although it’s a word, it’s really a feeling that the use of the word tends to add to its complexity. But even in all its complexity, it has the beauty of being one of the most universal feelings a person can ever experience. You don’ t need words to experience the actions of love. You don’t need to see or even hear to experience love.

LOVE is internal. It’s that internal feeling that connects people, places, and things in ways that we could not imagine. It’s the power of those internal connections that will “get us back to Real FACE Time” and focused on what really matters.

So here is the question of the day, “When was the last time you actually picked up the phone and talked to someone that you LOVED?” You probably had to think about it for a minute. Life often consumes us of those stop and connect moments because we are people on the go. Constantly moving, changing lanes, and paces. Driven by a schedule, a calendar, and deadlines. Powered by smart devices, conveniences, instant and constant connections to “worldwide”. Living for “social” connections on electronic platforms that encourage us to “book, like, chat, and be instant”. Even with all the wonderful conveniences, nothing can replace TIME. We can’t regain it, we can’t buy it, we can’t save it, and we can’t recreate it. The only thing we can do is cherish it and make the most of every moment in TIME that we have.

Now you may be thinking, “well this topic doesn’t FEEL real loving.” You have just exposed all the things that are wrong and nothing that’s loving. Please know that as I am writing this I am boiling over with conviction because I have spent hours swiping up and down, liking, pinning, and recording all for the world to see while missing the engagement moments. Capturing moments to “share” instead of just being in the moment and laughing, talking, and enjoying the connections with those around me. But keep reading there is help for us.

In the article, “Social Connections Makes a better Brain” written by The Atlantic, they note that research has found that by nature we were made to have meaningful social interactions. “Social connections are as important to our survival and flourishing as the need for food, safety, and shelter. But over the last 50 years, while society has been growing more and more prosperous and individualistic, our social connections have been dissolving”.

OHHHHH, so that what’s wrong with us (Smile). Is the “selfie, I, ME’ monsters going to take over the world? (SIGH). Oh no my friends, we can conqueror this new world, and be the heroes of LOVE, CONNECTIONS and TIME. We can take back the streets of the information highway by simply setting a new journey called, “The REAL FACETIME”.

I know, I know, I don’t understand what’s going on in your world. There is not a lot of time in the day to stop and talk to people on a phone or spend time with them. It’s easier to text or comment on a post. We have things to do, work to get finished, and agendas to conqueror. But the reality is that we can’t afford not too. We need social connections just as much as we need food to live. So here are 8 suggestions for you to start your “journey to Real FACE TIME”.

Pick Up the Phone– Look through your phone and call one person that you have not talked to in the past 30 days

Invite a Friend- Invite someone who you have been saying, “we need to get together”, to lunch or dinner this week.

Set a “no technology day” in your home– This is the day that you as a family are connecting, either through games, fun dinner time questions, etc. We do this in our home on Tuesday and Thursdays and it has been amazing.

Schedule a date night with your spouse– If you don’t have a babysitter, maybe ask one of your child’s friends parents if they would watch the kids and then you offer to watch their kids as they go on a date night. Now you have given someone else a “Real Face Time “moment which feels great, while also being intentional on connecting with you mate.

Schedule one-on-one time with your children– Just like parents need individual time with one another, I believe children need the same with their parents. It may not have to be a long time (teenagers may not be too happy with this, but again is so necessary to life) but even if it is just to tell your child something you LOVE about them or how proud you are of them.

Make time for your parents- Call your parents or go to their home and just sit. You will truly cherish those moments later in life.

Connect with a group of friends– Do something fun, laugh, eat, have great conversation. Your soul will thank you.

Say I LOVE YOU-. Taken from the Stevie Wonder song, “these 3 words, sweet and simple”. I LOVE YOU when said sincerely can change lives forever.

So, you have a few items to jumps start your “Connections: Getting back to Real FaceTime” journey. This journey is not an easy one and will take work and commitment. It may be confusing, frustrating and sometimes painful. But by not taking the steps in the journey, could change the very essence of who we by nature were designed to be.

So, I challenge you this week to try some of the things above or create your own meaningful connections in person, by phone (and not texting), or maybe even in writing, yep I said it writing, a letter, you know with paper, pin, envelope, and stamp. 😊 You will be amazed at how that connection will not only fulfill you but also to one that will be on the receiving in.

I would love to hear from you as you are on this journey. Share your connections moments with us below, or on social media (yep I’m asking you to do that thing that I said don’t do, but this is only AFTER you had the connection moment) at eventsbyepic1 on Facebook or Instagram or by email at info@eventsbypic.com. Use the hashtag #justconnect.